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Thursday, April 20, 2017

Pines of Rome to remain in current Bethesda location for the near future

Douglas Development owns thePines of Rome building, and theformer location of Tommy Joe'sbehind it in Bethesda

The venerable Pines of Rome will be staying put at 4709 Hampden Lane for the foreseeable future. While the popular Italian spot's owner had been preparing for a more imminent move (as soon as the end of this month, according to a source) to the former Matuba space on Cordell Avenue, those plans have now changed.

Pines of Rome will remain in its current location "for the next few years or so," a spokesperson for the restaurant said in a message this morning. So while an eventual move across town remains almost inevitable, you'll be enjoying their famous white pizza on Hampden Lane for a while longer than expected.

Fans of the beloved restaurant, a neighborhood institution since 1972, had been fearful Pines of Rome would be closing since Douglas Development bought their property 3 years ago. The new property on Cordell Avenue assures the survival of the restaurant, even if the scenery ends up changing in a few years.

20 comments:

This location is part of the WPC/Douglas/CC Land/Bainbridge assemblage where they're planning some mega-development. Pines will certainly have to move eventually, but their site might not be developed until later phases. I'm assuming the loooong cleared site of the former Exxon will be developed first.

Not for me but I'm glad they are succeeding even if I don't like them. The place looks dead and closed, so if they are able to succeed despite the dead appearance, good for them wow.... Quincy's couldn't make it and they were decorated like crazy. Must be a nicer owner.

8:07: Big Bethesda story, and I understand your embarrassment and frustration to have slept through it. They were going to be moving soon to Cordell Avenue, but just now found out they can stay awhile longer. Major Bethesda story, if you understand the significance of Pines of Rome, which you likely don't as a carpetbagger.

6:26: Must have been a real shock for the folks at the small and slightly-failing magazine, who fell for the HVAC story hook, line and sinker. My report that broke the Quincy's closure story turned out to be 100% accurate.

Robert Dyer you are such a fool. The B Magazine article never purported that the HVAC quote was the real reason for closure. It was just a quote! FOOL. It was giving one side of the story, something about which you don't know because you are so narrow-minded. Also, I am grateful that they quoted that moron Arnie. It's out there for all to see what a joke he is. Further proof of Arnie's crazy ways. The best part of that article was when his friend Benny Fischer came in the comments and said that everyone should be sued for saying Arnie is a disaster.

4:42: And you are such a tool, because the mag's article didn't give two sides, just the idea that there was a good explanation with the HVAC. The natural reaction of a journalist would be to say, "Wait a minute, that makes no sense."

When has a restaurant closed more than hours or one day for an HVAC repair? Think, McFly, think.

I'm not narrow-minded, I'm just 3 for 3 on Pizza Pass, Bethesda BBQ Company and Quincy's. Competitors fell for the owners' tricks in all 3 cases. Why aren't you over there ripping them in the comments like you do here, for their fake news about HVAC?

Robert, no one fell for anything! They were reporting a quote! It was information and it wasn't interpreted as the reason as you claim. Anyways......regardless of our difference on that - why doesn't the county amend the rules so that businesses cannot go for months without paying rent to owners like Quincy's did? The space is languishing and it seems really unfair and maybe we need new rules on this issue.

@7:30 Landlord here (though not of QUincy's space). The QUincy's owners filed for Chapter 11 one day before the hearing in landlord-tenant court that would have resulted in the eviction order (well.. actually it starts the process to pay or be evicted to be more accurate).

In MoCo, it takes 4-6 weeks to get a hearing scheduled from the time you file the paperwork, so tenants have plenty of time to pull stunts up to the date of the hearing.. like filing for Chap 11 bankruptcy protection.

Now the landlord is in a tough spot since they need to line up with other creditors in bankruptcy court, and this puts the eviction on hold.

I love the commenters on this blog. This story has nothing to do with Quincy's. I don't mind though cause Arnie Fainman is in a basket of deplorables all by himself. Don't forget the Arnie factor in Quincy's demise. That said, the rules and regs in the county are not surprising. As a building owner, you can't even evict your tenant that has failed to pay 300k in rent. Nice.